Half to theodore du bois



1 I'. GOLDSMITH. l GOMBINATIoN SBBSAW AND'MERRY-Go-ROUND.

No. 501,005. m0000001l J-u1y'4, 1003.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND GOLDSMITH, OF SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO THEODORE DU BOIS, OF SAME PLACE.

COMBINATION SESAW AND MERRY-GO-ROUND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 501,005, dated July 4, 1893.

Application tiled September 7, 1892. Serial No. 445,229. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FERDINAND GoLDsMITH, a citizen of the-.United States, residing at Saginaw, in the county ot' Saginaw and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Combination Seesaw and Merry-Go-Round, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in combined see-saws and merry-go-rounds.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive combined seesaw and merry-go-round which may be readily converted from one device to the other and which may be quickly adjusted to make the device higher or lower to suit the character of the persons using it and to enable the sport to be perfectly safe.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings2--Figure 1 isa perspective view of a combined seesaw and merry-goround constructed in accordance with this invention, showing the device arranged as a seesaw. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view showing the device arranged as a merry-go-round.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawlngs.

1 designates a balance beam which is centrally swiveled to a bearing 2 fulcrumed on a cross rod 3, of an adjustable frame composed of opposite pairs of legs 4. having their upper ends pivoted together by the said rod and having their lower ends connected by cross bars 5. The adjustable legs are adapted to be spread or drawn together to raise and lower the device to suit different sizes of persons usingit, and to make the device perfectly safe for small children. The legs are secured in their adjustment by sectional bars 6 provided with notches and adapted to engage projections 7 on one of the legs at each side of the adjustable frame. Each adjustable bar is composed of two sections having their inner adjacent ends pivoted together andthe outer end of one of the sections is pivoted to the leg at the side not having the projection '7. The cross-rod is provided near its middle with annular anges S between which are arranged depending flanges of the bearing 2 which directly supports the balance beam. The bearing consists of a rectangular plate and the said depending anges 9 which are recessed to receive the cross-rod; and depending `from opposite ends ofthe plate 10 have secured to' them adjusting plates 11 provided with diverging depending perforated arms 11a one being arranged at each end and adapted to be engaged by a hook 13 secured to the adjacent crdss-bar which connects the lower endsof the legs. The hooks are adapted to engage the dierent holes of the depending arms and form adjustable braces for supporting the bearing 2 in a rigid position on the cross rod when the balance beam is designed to be rotated to form a merry-go-round,and theseadjustable braces are lengthened or shortened according to the height ofthe bearing 2. The

rectangular plate of the bearing 2 has a central opening upon which is secured acircular bearing disk 14C which is provided with a central opening and having a tubular portion 15 depending therefrom and forming a socket for the reception of a spindle Y 16 depending from acompanion disk 17 secured to the lower face of the balance beam and the said disks are adapted to receive between them balls to provide a ball bearing. At diametrically opposite points on their peripheries the bearing disks are provided with recesses 18 and 19 j adapted to register or align and be engaged by the lower end 200i a lever 21 arranged at each side of the balance beam and pivoted or fnlcrumed thereon. By bringing the lower end of the lever in engagement with the recesses or notches of the bearing disks the two disks are rigidly secured together and the beam is made rigid with the bearing 2.

When the balance beam is made rigid with the bearing 2, the adjustable braces are disconnected by disengaging the hooks from the perforations of the depending arms and the beam is adapted to rock to form a seesaw. At each end of the beam is arranged a horse having a seat. 23 provided on its lower face with L-shaped plates or knees 24 having depending portions or arms arranged on opposite.

IOO

sides of the beam which is also arranged in a recess or groove 26, of the seat. A cam le- Ver is fulcrumed between the lower ends of the depending portions or arms of the L- shaped plates or knees and is adapted to engage the lower face of the balance beam to lock the horse and chair at any desired adjustment to enable the horses to be shifted and secured to any point to equalize the device and enable persons of different weights to seesaw and to use the merry-go-round.

The lower end of the spindleis reduced and perforated and is secured in the tubular portion or socket of the lower bearing disk by a pin or key 27. The upperend of the pivoted legs are secured by nuts between annular flanges 28 and 29 of the cross-rod, and these flanges may be formed by washers or rings or be cast integral with the rod.

It will be seen that the device is simple and inexpensive in construction,that it is capable of being readily converted into a seesaw or merry-go-round and that it may be readily adjusted in height to suit different sizes of children and to enable small ones to use it with perfect safety.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a seesaw and merry-go-round, the combination of an adjustable frame or support:`

provided with pivoted legs having a cross-rod provided near its middle with annular flanges,

a bearing consisting of a rectangular plate and depending flanges provided with bearing recesses receiving the cross-rod and arranged between the annular flanges thereof, a balance beam swiveled on the bearing, the diverging depending perforated arms secured to the bearing. and hooks attached to the adjustable frame or support and adapted to engage the perforations of said arms, substan tially as described.

2. In a seesaw and merry-go-round, the combination of an adjustable frame having a cross-rod, a bearing having depending flanges mounted on the cross-rod, said bearing having a central opening, a lower bearing disk mounted on the bearing and havinga depending tubular portion therein and forming a socket and provided at its periphery with a recess, an upper bearin g disk having a notch or recess corresponding with that of the lower bearing disk and provided with a depending spindle arranged in the tubular portion a balance beam secured to the upper disk and a lever fulcrumed on the balance beam and having a lower end adapted to engage the recesses or notches of the disks when the same are in alignment, substantially as described.

3. In aseesaw and merry-go-round, the combination of an adjustable support having a cross-rod, a bearing mounted thereon and having depending flanges and provided With a central opening, a lower bearing disk having diametrically disposed notches and provided with a depending tubular portion an upper bearing disk provided with similar' notches and having a depending spindle reduced and perforated at its lower end and arranged in the tubular'portion, a key passing through the perforation and securing the spindle in the tubular portion, a balance beam and the levers fulcrumed on opposite sides of the balance beam and having lower ends adapted to engage said notches, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FERDINAND GOLDSMITH.

Witnesses:

HENRY A. PEEsMoEs, JOHN RIORDAN. 

